Algal blooms spotted near fishing piers

Published: Saturday, August 9, 2014 at 09:30 AM.

Potentially harmful algal blooms have made an appearance in North Carolina waters but didn’t stay long where reported near fishing piers on Topsail Island.

Chris Powers of Surf City Pier said state officials came by recently to check on what was apparently algal blooms in waters near there, but they are no longer present and didn’t appear to be in a high concentration.

“I don’t know for sure that it was algae blooms but they did come by and check,” Powers said.

Blooms were also seen earlier this week near Sea View Pier at North Topsail Beach but are also gone from there.

State officials are urging people to avoid contact with the potentially harmful algal blooms, which have shown up in waters in southeastern North Carolina in recent weeks due to hot weather.

Officials from the N.C. Division of Water Resources are working with state public health officials, staff from UNC-Wilmington and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to investigate algal blooms reported at several sites in southeastern North Carolina, according to a news release issued Friday.

According to the release algal blooms were detected recently near ocean piers at Topsail Island but have since moved offshore.

Potentially harmful algal blooms have made an appearance in North Carolina waters but didn’t stay long where reported near fishing piers on Topsail Island.

Chris Powers of Surf City Pier said state officials came by recently to check on what was apparently algal blooms in waters near there, but they are no longer present and didn’t appear to be in a high concentration.

“I don’t know for sure that it was algae blooms but they did come by and check,” Powers said.

Blooms were also seen earlier this week near Sea View Pier at North Topsail Beach but are also gone from there.

State officials are urging people to avoid contact with the potentially harmful algal blooms, which have shown up in waters in southeastern North Carolina in recent weeks due to hot weather.

Officials from the N.C. Division of Water Resources are working with state public health officials, staff from UNC-Wilmington and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to investigate algal blooms reported at several sites in southeastern North Carolina, according to a news release issued Friday.

According to the release algal blooms were detected recently near ocean piers at Topsail Island but have since moved offshore.

State officials also investigated reports of algal blooms at Lake Tabor in Columbus County near the South Carolina border. Although no visual bloom was occurring, local officials posted a precautionary swimming advisory until water testing is completed.

On Wednesday, staff with the state Division of Water Resources also investigated a reported bloom on the Cape Fear River. Staff assessed the river from Elwell Ferry in Bladen County down to Wilmington, where the river empties into the Atlantic Ocean. No algal blooms were detected along the stretch of this river.

Algal and water quality samples collected from all three areas are being analyzed at the Division of Water Resources lab.

It is safe to boat or fish in the affected areas, but state officials encourage the public to avoid contact with large accumulations of the algae and to take precautions to prevent children and pets from swimming or ingesting water in an algal bloom.

North Carolina has had no reports of adverse health effects in humans associated with freshwater algal blooms.

A diverse population of algae is usually beneficial and provides a rich food source for aquatic animals. However, when hot temperatures and calm water combine with nutrient-rich waters, large algal blooms may form that can produce toxins that pose a human health hazard, according to information provided in the release.

Algal blooms also may reduce the oxygen available to fish and other aquatic animals, which can result in fish kills.

N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries spokeswoman Patricia Smith said Friday that no fish kills have been reported.

----

State health officials recommend the following steps to safeguard pets and children from any potentially harmful algal bloom:

• Keep children and pets away from water that appears very green, discolored or scummy.

• Do not handle or touch large mats of algae.

• Avoid handling, cooking or eating dead fish that may be present.

• If you come into contact with an algal bloom, wash thoroughly. Also, use clean water to rinse off pets that may have come into contact with an algal bloom.